Parent workshop will focus on English learners

FALLBROOK —— A committee dedicated to helping Spanish-speaking
students learn and excel in English will host its second parent
training night Thursday, helping parents be more alert to their
children's educational needs, organizers said.

Abel Lopez, president of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School
District's English Learners' Advisory Committee, said Tuesday that
the training night is open to everyone, but will focus on the
parents of English learners.

"We want to get the parents involved, and give them tools so
they can help their kids with homework," Lopez said. "We also want
to let them know about their rights as parents —— we want them to
have open communication with the principals and teachers … to
improve the education of the kids."

Scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Potter Junior High School's
Bowers Auditorium, the workshop will consist of lectures and
exercises in Spanish, he said. Stacey Larson-Everson, a director of
special projects for the school district, added that translators
will be available for anyone wishing to listen to the speakers in
English.

Larson-Everson said that last year's parent workshop —— the
first of its kind for the Fallbrook elementary district —— was
well-received by the parents who attended.

"The parents enjoyed it —— they felt informed, they felt
empowered and they proposed to have two of these events this school
year," she said. "So we're having one now, and we'll have one in
the spring. We hope it will bring a lot of parents together again
this year, in a place where they can gain more information about
helping their kids be successful in school."

With pressure from state and the federal No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 standards mounting, Lopez said school districts with a
certain number of English learners —— students who must acquire
English skills while keeping up with the standard curriculum —— are
required to have advisory committees such as the one he leads.

"English learner advisory committees were not established until
a few years ago, and now they're everywhere," Lopez said.

Larson-Everson said that there will be three speakers featured
during Thursday's workshop, including Vista Unified School District
spokeswoman Theresa Barron, who advises other districts on English
learner instruction.

Frank Gonzales, a specialist with the San Diego County Office of
Education's violence and gang prevention unit, and local educator
Raul Perez will also address the parents in Spanish, she said.

Potter Junior High is located at 1743 Reche Road. Transportation
will be available between Potter and Maie Ellis Elementary School
Thursday night, district officials said.